How to Choose Your First Bass |
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- Опубліковано 15 тра 2024
- Julia shows you some of the things you should pay attention to when choosing your first bass! How do the different pickups sound like, should you get a 5-string as a first bass and why it could make sense to get a short scale. Hopefully this will help you a bit to choose your very first bass!
Gear used: bit.ly/3mxuxr5
Recorded and mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/uadx1
Monitors optimised through Sonarworks: tho.mn/sonar
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Intro
0:39 The Pickups
1:03 Playing Singlecoil Pickup
1:44 Playing Split Coil Pickup
1:59 Playing Humbucker
2:07 4 or 5 String Bass?
2:47 Playing 5 String Bass
2:57 Scale Lenght? Short Scale?
3:34 Playing Medium Scale Bass
3:42 Fretless Bass
4:11 Playing Fretless Bass
4:25 Roundwound and Flatwound Strings?
4:42 Playing Roundwound vs Flatwound Strings
5:03 Please comment if you have any questions!
5:24 Thanks for watching!
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That fretless bass sounds amazing! I love the warm sound and slides into and out of notes.
This actually did help. I'm currently about to buy my first ever bass, and this helped bring clarity to all those options. Thanks again Julia!
enjoy it!! must be really exciting I remember getting my first bass I knew a bit but it's great that you do some research before getting into shedding ;)
@@karel2050 what was your first bass? Any recommendations?
@@dingobabies9824 I got a sire marcus miller v3 2nd gen and even tho I own a custom overwater I still use it and will never sell it so I deff recommend that one
@@karel2050 I will look into that! Thanks!
@@karel2050 is that bass versatile
That fretless sounds so good. Well played Julia
I was inspired to get a bass after hearing Mick Karn play his fretless - I bought my first bass a couple weeks after he died... 😞
Do you know the name of that?
@@symbiat0 EXACTLY WHY I WANT ONE TOO! I cried when I found out he died.
@@symbiat0 Would you recommend a fretless for a beginner? I've never played bass before and I'm really wanting that melodic fretless sound, but I've heard some people saying not to start with a fretless, though it's what I want eventually.
@@1nahoma Not sure what you’re asking: the fretless bass she’s showing (Sire Marcus Miller V3 2nd Generation) ? Or what Mick Karn used ?
About 10 months ago i saw a really cool Fender Mustang PJ bass in the torino red color in a store, and just felt in love with that look. I had never played bass before, i had no idea short scale basses existed, but buying it was definitely the best decision i took this year. Now i learn everything i can about techniques, sounds, how to play my favorite bass lines, i feel like i'm discovering a whole new world everyday and it feels so freaking cool !
Fell in love with a fretless bass from the beginning
I have always wanted to learn the bass in honour of a good friend of mine who sadly passed away a few years ago. He was a brilliant bass player but he tried to teach me one time and I was hopeless 😂 now at age 56yo with early arthritis in my hands, sadly, I think I am too late!
When it comes to choosing a new instrument, there are no end of opinions about "what's best" or "what you should play". Ignore all of those. Focus solely on how the instrument feels in your hands and how it sounds to your ears. My first bass was Fender's top of the line instrument of its day, the 1992 Fender US Plus Series Jazz Bass Plus V Ash, equivalent to what today would be the Fender Ultra series, or the American Professional II series.
I went to the music store having no preconceptions of "what bass should sound like", and I found the Jazz Plus V very comfortable and I loved how it sounded. It remained my main bass for almost two decades. Now my main bass is a Music Man StingRay fretless with piezo pickups, but eventually, I'm going to need a new fretted bass, and that Jazz Plus is still the model for me of what a bass needs to be in order to make me happy.
Best overview! Clear, simple and to the point.
That is one of the best help to our new bass childs, to how to choose best gear. Nice thing is that you said that is not matter what number of strings a bass have. We just need to learn an instrument that we get under the fingers. Great Julia again.
Thanks, Julia! You actually covered a few more topics than other videos I have watched on choosing you first bass. Which made your video much helpful. In addition you kept playing the same or similar riffs, making all the pick-up and string differences easier to hear and identify. You would think playing the same riff to make tone differences easier to identify would be an obvious thing to do, yet it has not been my observation in past videos I have watched, which is actually frustrating.
Great video that also in my opinion starts with the most important thing to choose on a bass: the pickups! When it's time to choose an instrument, forget the look or the shape, the pickup configuration is the real thing to look at. Thus, if you can't afford un fender for exemple, try a less expensive bass with the same pickup configuration and you won't be disappointed.
And very good point Julia: If you feel like playing a 5 string bass, don't let anyone convice you to play a 4 string one first and then when you get better to get a 5 string, or stupid videos telling you you don't need more than 4 strings...
Great video as always Julia, and BTW great fretless sound on this one!
Congratulations for the great work video Júlia 👏🏼
Precision bass was my first choice and remains forever
Thank you for sharing your knowledge Julia and presenting these basses. Even though I know about most of these points that you made, it really made me realize why I play the bass that I do. I am a short scale bass player because I did, as you said, start off on guitar first many years ago. My hands aren't large, and I don't have long fingers that might make playing a long scale bass easier. But actually, I am a "lazy" bass player in that I want to have the lightest bass with the shortest distance between frets (or fret lines on my fretless) as possible to make the sound that I want to make. And BTW that Squire Jaguar short scale has an awesome sound! Very snappy, but I never liked how it sat in my lap when I owned one. Oh well- I'll stick with my custom short scale fretless Bronco bass. Great video and thanks again!
Getting ready to buy my first bass. This was very helpful! Thank you!
Always great to see a new video from Julia on Thomann's Basses and Guitars.
Great help with the pickups, very interested in the G&L L2000 Tribute due to the hyper flexibility of the sound scape. Also, it is a bass many talk about (but behind closed doors and in a speak easy sort of fashion) and hardly show.
In any case, luckily there are a limited number of setups and the P and P/J that I have currently are doing alright (for now!).
Thank you for the great starter video, this will certainly help a lot of people out!
*Slap*
Honestly I've learned quite a bit just watching Julia's right hand finger style picking . In my humble opinion her strongest attribute as a bassist is phrasing .
This was a great video! I wanted you to keep going because it was so informative. Thank you!!
Truly a helpful video. I already got my heart set on a Dingwall Super J 5. And I also plan to get an effects processor in order to get a fretless sound this way I can just stick to one instrument in my bass work
You covered pickup varieties very well. I would have expanded that segment to include Bartolini soapbars. My Ibanez SR505 had them, and I found their response to be key to my sound. You also covered strings well. An additional topic would have been coated strings. Thanks!
always love to see Julia :)
never heard of a fretless bass! thanks! i love its sound and cello is my favorite classical instrument so this helped me narrow things down
I love having many different basses. That's just me. But this is a really useful video, well done!!!
That really points out the intricacies of bass sound, and that fretless bass is sweet, that can reach deep down into your mood, like a chelo is exactly right.
I didn’t realize that until watching this video lol it’s really making wanna start with a fretless cuz that’s the sound I want but I know I shouldn’t
Thank you Julie a 59 years old never played anything in my life.
I’m leaning towards the base because I listen to all the old school funk!
Oh gosh, that was lovely! Nice job! Loved the fretless sound! Nice surprise 😅
I bought a second hand Epi Les Paul Special Bass years ago. Still love it.
Great video! Don't forget that the bass shape plays a role too, this video only shows Fender/Musicman body shapes and there's a whole class of less bulky basses (e.g. Warwick, Tobias etc) that provide an entirely different experience in terms of tactility and sound. Also worth mentioning active/passive pickups as that comes up often in bass guitars!
Omg thia was a really nice crash course!! Thanks!
Very clear advice to choose a first bass. Thank you for your time ;-)
Hi Julia. I've been enjoying and learning from your cool vids. The last stringed instrument I played was a violin back in '69. Been a jazz drummer since. For fun, I added bass and I have 2. Still a beginner but enjoying it. Here's what I did; Got a BB614 Yamaha. Smooth and a bit heavy but stable and warm. Then I got a Yamaha TRBX 174, a bargain bass. Well, it plays nice. Feels lighter and playing action feels a little lighter. Also sounds a little brighter on the P pickup and a little bit on the J pickup as well. I'm enjoying both. The first one is used but in really good shape with a Bad Ass bridge. It came with it. If the budget affords, 2 different types of basses really give some fun insight and different sounds and I think it's fun but only one thing works well for everyone consistently. Practice! To me, the instruments are like different kinds of cars. Each for it's features and how it drives. Keep the cool vids coming!
Thank you for this! I needed this video a lot.
Awesome video. I’m on older guy and I still learned something on this. Thanks.
Where Have You Been Young Lady! Great To See You! More Fretless Bass Videos.
Awesome! I just got the Sterling 24 Classic that you show. Couldn’t be more happy with it!
Watch all the sterling mods on Lowendlobster. You'll learn how to tinker for shaping the exact sound you want. And then you'll never be quite satisfied. Ever. Its a trap lol
@@JustNodIfYouCanHearMe77 youuuu bastard! haha
Thanks for the video, really helps me understand.
Practice space can also be a consideration. I have a Mustang American Performer and love it. I wish Fender would make a fretless Mustang with a rosewood fretboard. Great video! I like your playing on the fretless, including the harmonics!
Well done. You are very good at
What you do.
The fret less bass immediately took my back to my college days and chillen to some Bela Fleck on a Friday night with a cold snack.
Just helped me decide that I would like a fretless 4 string, round wound strung bass as my one and only bass to jam to deep bass tunes, and with my partner. So thanks!
Wow that Fender Vintera and Sire Marcus Miller looks AWSOME. They are on my wish list now.
Good stuff, very useful. Can you do a video where you just play the fretless, that sounded amazing!
Very nice break-down! Thank you
Thank u for such a helpful video😊😊
Super video, thank you 🙏
I had my instructor pick out my first bass. Traded it in after a year for the best looking Squier JazzBass at Guitar Center. 2 years later, bought second one, a 5 string Music Man Sting Ray active bass last year because I had to have a 5'er for our vocalist who loved Eb.
@PopsMotherRoadFBR
very infofrmative...glad i bought a 5 string...
I think expounding on the reasons why one would pick a 5 or 6 string bass would be useful too.
Do more videos please. Since I started playing bass, my depression has left for good. Now I just have anxiety because I want to be a better player like my brother so bad. I have to remember to enjoy the journey....peace.
ok , now i want a fretless bass with flatwound string 🙄 thanks 🙈🙈🙈 Great video ! 🙂👍
Love watching you play. You look so happy. I have been to my local music store and tried tried some basses twice now. There about 14 basses there. I just play an acoustic guitar at home and often play bass lines lines on it. I'm finding it overwhelming at the store. It's a big investment. In the store the bass sounds like to fat or to deep kinda and so big to hold onto with the high stool that they have to sit on. Not how I expected. But I still like the sound of bass on songs and want to try.
So helpful. Thank you.
Helpful information
😂 I've been buying basses, drums and guitars for years, but still watched for Julia
Inspiring! Thanks
Excellent overview of some fine choices.And your playing ,brings out the best iof each. Okay. Get used to me hangin around -I'm staying. :)
That fretless sounds like heaven!
Thank you!!
I would always go for the reversed version of the P-bass pickup, shown by Julia on the blue Harley Benton ('HB Enhanced MP-5EB') 2:47
Get 6 basses over the years, from the 60s, 80s and 00s, but i like my cheap first one most. RBX250, simple and great sound.
First was easy, it was the 4th that gave me trouble. Worked it out in the end
You sound cool as hell and this is a good video.
Great video, thanks !
Your awesome Julia🎶❤️
Very well explained
2 months ago I bought a Hofner Violin bass it’s great
I’m going to get a squire classic vibe 60s bass guitar,thanks 🏴❤️👍
Good advice from Julia.
From my experience there are four rules:
1. It's got to stir your soul and make you want to play it.
2. It's got to be able to offer good articulation (note separation). You need this so that you can practice your timing even in busy or otherwise noisy mixes. This means avoid active-only basses because many preamps out there are low quality and kill dynamics. Found this out the hard (and expensive) way.
3. It's got to be able to offer low or mid-level action because initially you won't have the finger strength to play long if action is too high. If the above two are met and there is no alternative, fret-levelling is in order.
4. No 5-string basses. The bass guitar is not only about playing but also muting strings and 5-string ones make this extra-complicated. Get your first 5-string bass if you really need it, later, after you have gotten some skill in controlling the noise.
Thank you Julia!!!! You are the whole reason I'm learning the bass. My whole life has been trying, but not being able to get around all the misogyny in instrument shops, gear shops, music stores, etc. You are truly a breath of fresh air. This world needs way more people like you!!
Thank you so much for your kind words! :) // Cheers, Julia
When I chose my first bass, I picked a Made in Mexico Fender Jazz Bass. The reasons I did were pretty simple. 1) I thought the name sounded cool. 2) The music store had one in a nice burgundy color. 3) The neck was really comfortable for a beginner.
I've since switched to a Precision and a StingRay because I prefer the sound, but the Jazz Bass still has my favorite neck shape.
Got a 2nd hand MIM Jazz Bass in midnight wine as a first bass too! Beautiful instrument, both sound and look.
I’ve mentioned this elsewhere, but I firmly believe that those are the first basses that should be purchased.. 😉
@@shipsahoy1793 Glad to hear this since my 1st bass is the American Geddy Lee Jazz bass.
@@RichardsScott 👍Not bad, a good place to start if you ask me. Apparently, a lot of bassists feel the same way.😆 Lol, that sounded like one of those double meaning things!😮. ✌️👨🏻
@@shipsahoy1793 I’m a guitarist who recently picked up a bass and I found a used, barely played 2017 Fender MIM Jazz Bass locally for a great price. If I really get into it I can imagine finding a used MIM P Bass to go along with it. Paying used prices can mean getting both for the same price as a new Player series.
Thank you 🙏🏾
I've played guitar off and on for 30 years. This was great for a trip into Bassville!
Now, what about amps? Next video, perhaps??
She's already done a video on amps, beginner on up. Do a search. ua-cam.com/video/ETXA1m-Oi_U/v-deo.html
@@montysonful cool, didn't know, thanks!
@@montysonful thought, to be fair, 'best amps of 2020' is not quite the same as a 'how to choose your first bass amp'
Both of my bases were gifted to me the acoustic/ electric Dean playmate and my EMG equipment Ibanez EX bass. If I got another one I would probably go for an uke bass with those big rubbery strings 🤗
If you like rubbery, try tape wounds on a standard electric bass. Lower tension than rounds and flats, snd smooth on the fingers like flats.
@@shipsahoy1793 Eirik at Living room gear demos did a thing on those
@@PooNinja Ok, but I did my own thing on those! 🤣
Clicked on the video because I saw my first bass in the thumbnail. Sterling Stingray 24ca (tv yellow, used) represent 🙌
I could easily watch Julia all day.
Great video indeed. I've been trying to decide between a J bass and a Stingray for a while, and I still can't decide. I like the Stingray tone so much, but the J bass seems more "universal", and I just can't have both. What's your take on this?
I played my friends bass for 5 minutes and decided I needed to learn so I got off work went across to GC with every dollar I had and found the Yamaha trbx 174ew and got a fender rumble 25w the next week I got some diaddario chrome flats and I haven’t had to think about getting another yet after 2 years
Good video. Thanks.
Great explanation, Julia, and in your hands every bass sounds amazing =)
may I add another point: How does the bass feel in your hands? This was always my main deciding point, when buying a bass or guitar....it was always the instrument itself telling me to buy =)
I agree. I like the sound of the p bass but the feel of a j bass. I play the jazz 9 out of 10 times.
Recommend a P+J bass as your first. Ibanez offers good choices under $300 new. Upgrade the pickups after you get good.
My take on this been a recording engineer and musician.
J Bass Pickups: are the most versatile ones, since there’s two of them, you can mix them and blend them to create sounds from a lot of genres like jazz, fusion, blues, even some classic rock. (Examples: Flea, Jaco Pastorious, Marcus Miller, John Paul Jones)
P Bass Pickups: this are what they call a one trick pony, but they do that trick very well. More punchier, gritty sounds, and more bass, and they are perfect from more heavier genres like rock, punk, metal, grunge, etc… (Examples: Mark Hoppus, Nate Mendel, Mike Dirnt, Steve Harris, Dee Dee Ramone, Roger Waters, Duff McKagan)
Humbucker has two types
Stingray Active Humbucker:
This is more or less a P bass with a preamp and another coil inside. Since they are active they are way louder than any of the previous ones, and cut thru the mix harder. They sound super punchy if you play with a pick. And the slap as well is super clear sounding. But as well perfect for heavier genres due to the activeness of the pickup
Thunderbird Passive Humbucker:
This type of humbuckers has a sounds of it’s own, they are punchy and heavy like the P bass ones, but usually come in two so there’s a lot of blending options, as well a staple of rock and heavy music, this ones usually come is a neck thru body so the resonance is amazing.
They main thing with the shorter scale is the resonance, since there’s less string, less movement, but in some circumstances that’s better, Finneas play a shorter scale bass live with Billie Eilish.
Thank you
Hello Julia, great video. I would like to buy all of the basses you played ! Especially the fretless. But I won't. Stupid mortgage !!!! Have a great week.
When are you to do a video with Fishman Fluence Bass Pickups? Perhaps a Schecter SLS 4!
Julia, maybe you should have told in the recording that the split coil pickup is hum-cancelling and so is the humbucker pickup.
Interesting stuff.
I've been looking at basses to accompany my guitars for a while and for me the biggest question is related to the shapes. It seems like you either go with J- or P-bass, but I have no idea which I should be looking at.
Those are definitely the 2 basic shapes but that has nothing to do with anything unless you find 1 more comfortable to play. As the lady said it’s mostly about the pickups and strings & what type of playing you see yourself doing. The 2 pickups on a jazz bass offer a wider & throatier tonal range than the single pickup P Bass. The J Bass also has a slimmer neck profile which many seem to prefer over a chunky P or a stingray. Also the 2 single coil pickups on a J act as a humbucker when used in unison but if you solo 1 you will get some 60 cycle hum noise.
You got to like the way it looks and also like the feel of the neck
I'm sure don't have tiime to give private consultation but... I'm a guitarist wanting a bass so I can lay down bass tracks at home. I've seen you play Sadowsky MetroExpress Hybrid PJ 4-String (e.g., Top 5 Earth, Wind and Fire bass lines x 2) which sounds great (but every bass you play sounds great). For $1,000 it seems to be a high quality, great sounding bass. While a cheaper bass might suffice for me, I do like quality, like the P/J combo and think this could be a good investment and that I would get more enjoyment than from a cheaper bass. Also, I LOVE all of your videos and am now very interested in advancing my bass playing skills. Would you recommend the Sadowsky MetroExpress Hybrid PJ for me?
You can’t beat the Sterling line up. The quality vs price is fantastic. I often said if Fender sold it it would not be $400 it would be 1200. Get a Sterling.
Agree hands down. They are the most consistent of the budget basses for quality and build. No matter who you buy them from, they seem to all weigh and feel the same.
@@bobt5778 im getting the new blood orange HH. That is a beautiful instrument. I played the new “Sterling” at the music store and it’s fantastic. It’s a bit bland for me as far as appearance. The unfinished look is cool with the white pickups. But I like a bit of color
to whoever is considering their 1st instrument i would suggest looking for anything around 400-500 euro range. Mostly for the better quality, ease of play and the resale value if you are not interested in the instrument anymore. Avoid complex preamp instruments, fretless (and maybe 5-6 strings) if you are starting imo. Nvm jazz/precision/humbucker, get anything that catches your eye and makes you want to pick it up and play. Good luck and enjoy.
personal suggestions would be a Side v5 or a Squire precision
Coming only from the title of the video: Can you please make versions on how to choose bass 2 to 15?
I would go a Squier Jazz Bass or a cheap MusicMan String Ray style bass.
also would be good to point out which are the jazz, precision, music man, double humbuckers and hybrid basses, as well as the short, mid, standard (34") and long (35") scales - sandberg basses.
I would love to hear you play The Rubberband Man "The Spinnters"
Think I'm getting the fretless. Thanks!
DO NOT SLEEP ON SIRE BASSES. One of the most versitile jazz basses and can easily beat most other basses of the price range. I have played over 50 basses, but nothing quite has the feel. Definitely check out!
Sold my Fender Jazz and Ernie Ball Music Man for a Modulus Jazz 4 string with active Bartolinis. NO REGRETS. Oh the tone
I wish you would have played a dual humbucker bass. I want something with a lot of low end.
Can You Please Teach Me How To Play Bass I Love Your Style Of Playing
Nice video